FECAVA: Healthy Breeding
Brachycephalic issues: shared resources (multiple country's resources)
Extreme Breeding Infographic BREEDING FOR EXTREME CONFORMATIONS - What is the problem? & What can we do? Causes, consequences...
Raising awareness about health and welfare issues associated with excessive breed-related traits such as brachycephaly is important to FECAVA. The Federation has recently adopted a Europe-wide position paper on this topic.
The Cambridge BOAS Research Group opened their new website in 2016. Great information on their programs and progress. Also background information on BOAS at a level for informed breeders, veterinarians and others. There are possibilities for dog owners and breeders in the UK to participate in and support this work.
Owners and breeders: See the flyer for an overview.

Consequences and Management of Canine Brachycephaly in Veterinary Practice: Perspectives from Australian Veterinarians and Veterinary Specialists
Fawcett, et al., including Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney, Australia
Animals 2019, 9, 3; doi:10.3390/ani9010003
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/1/3
For: Veterinarians, health care professionals, all stakeholders
Review: Brenda Bonnett, DVM, PhD
This comprehensive review covers the health problems and welfare issues in brachycephalic dogs highlighting a veterinary perspective. The text of the paper comprises 19 pages and includes a wide-range of topics. This paper is an excellent resource for veterinary health care professionals and clinicians. However, topics in this paper are also important for all stakeholders involved with the brachycephalic issue in dogs. At the end of the paper, there is an important discussion of the ethical challenges for veterinarians, both as individuals and the profession as a whole. Concerned that readers, especially those who are not clinicians, may not persevere through the clinical information to reach this important section, I will highlight the importance of that discussion below. First, a general overview:
“Simple Summary: Canine and human co-evolution have disclosed remarkable morphological plasticity in dogs. Brachycephalic dog breeds are increasing in popularity, despite them suffering from well-documented conformation-related health problems. This has implications for the veterinary caseloads of the future. Whether the recent selection of dogs with progressively shorter and wider skulls has reached physiological limits is controversial. The health problems and short life expectancies of dogs with extremely short skulls suggests that we may have even exceeded these limits. Veterinarians have a professional and moral obligation to prevent and minimise the negative health and welfare impacts of extreme morphology and inherited disorders, and they must address brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) not only at the level of the patient, but also as a systemic welfare problem.”
The broad range of topics include:
· Concern that “Despite well-documented conformation-related health problems, brachycephalic dog breeds are increasing in popularity.”;
· Detailed enumeration and description of associated health problems;
· Behavioural impacts of brachycephaly, as well as
· “substantial evidence that brachycephaly compromises the welfare of affected dogs”, highlighting insurance data and research findings;
· Problems for individual dogs and their owners as well as for breed populations;
· Immediate concerns as well as future perspectives;
· Clinical diagnosis and management of BOAS and other problems in brachys, and
· A thought provoking discussion of “Ethical Challenges Associated with Brachycephalic Breeds” and the role of veterinarians.
Understanding the Complexity – the veterinary perspective
Past all the discussion of clinical findings and approaches, the section on ethical challenges has excellent coverage of the concerns and conflicting interests for veterinarians. For example, the best resolution for competing issues is not always clear, e.g.:
· the best interests of an individual dog, in general, and in relation to a specific health event;
· its owner’s attachment, attitudes, wishes, needs, and ability to provide care; and
· concerns for the breed overall, as well as
· the practical reality of the veterinarian as both a caregiver and a business person.
Two of the authors have also provided this summary: “Vets can do more to reduce the suffering of flat-faced dog breeds”:
February 12, 2019 2.16pm EST
http://theconversation.com/vets-can-do-more-to-reduce-the-suffering-of-flat-faced-dog-breeds-110702
It is important for all stakeholders to be aware of the challenges facing others as the dog world moves toward doing is what is best for dogs.
Also see:
DWN's Extremes of Conformation Category
Latest on brachycephalics from Sweden
Approaches to Breed-specific Extremes

Updated information from the FKK:
https://www.kennelliitto.fi/en/about-us/news/finnish-kennel-clubs-walk-test-helps-eliminate-dogs-severe-breathing-problems-breeding
The Finnish Kennel Club (FKK) has today released information about a ongoing project 'Fitness examination being prepared for Bulldogs' [Dated link; see Internet Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20151012050702/http://www.kennelliitto.fi/en/news/fitness-examination-being-prepared-for-bulldogs]in the English Bulldogs. This is a collaborative program between the kennel club, the breed club and The University of Helsinki Veterinary Hospital. Thirty English Bulldogs are being monitored for breathing, balance, a walking test, skin problems and x-ray'd from head to tail. The FKK has bought some equipment for the project and will pay for the study of the 30 dogs that the Breed Club has chosen to be tested. The aim is that this test could be used to evaluate dogs that would be suitable for breeding. Ultimately, the idea is to decrease health problems in any brachycephalic breed.

2020...
The Brachycephalic Working Group has posted resources on Bulldogs, French Bulldogs & Pugs...
VetCompass developed infographics, which summarise brachycephalic breed research...
What's available?
Bulldogs in the UK: Facing up to some challenges + full paper; French Bulldogs: Soaring UK popularity + full paper;
Pugs: Weighing up health priorities + full paper

As many of you may know, there has been a lot of focus of health and welfare issues in brachycephalics and in the spring information about Pugs in the Netherlands. The situation of government regulations on dog breeding is a complex one, and without appropriate inclusion of all relevant stakeholders, we cannot be sure that the best interests of dogs will be served. Our partners the Dutch Kennel Club have been working intensely with various groups and have come out with their thoughtful and evidence-based recommendations in the attached breeding strategy document. Thanks to veterinarian Laura Roest for sending us this communication.
Dear reader,
Enclosed you find the translated proposal the Dutch Kennel Club ‘Raad van Beheer’ has sent to the Dutch Government. This is not a certified translation, but gives us the opportunity to inform the international community. Please feel free to ask questions regarding the document.
In March 2019, the report “BREEDING BRACHYCEPHALIC DOGS*" was published in The Netherlands (in Dutch) with enforcement criteria for the breeding of brachycephalic dogs. These criteria were active from that day onwards.
The Raad van Beheer concurs with almost all criteria and wishes to adapt them in its own regulations, in close collaboration with the involved breed clubs. The Raad van Beheer does not agree with the Craniofacial Ratio (CFR) as a prohibiting criterion for breeding. This criterion would make it impossible to breed certain breeds while the prognostic value and the reproducibility of the CFR are being questioned among scientists.
The Raad van Beheer wants an exception for the regulated pedigree breeding, so these breeds can be bred in The Netherlands in a healthy form and with the effort to achieve a longer muzzle.
We hope to receive soon a positive reaction on our proposal from our Government and we will keep the International Dog World posted!
Kind regards,
Laura Roest, DVM and Gabri Kolster Board Member Raad van Beheer Breeding Commission
Dutch Kennel Club ‘Raad van Beheer’
Translated version: English...
Breeding strategy brachycephalic dogs in the Netherlands.pdf
Also see: background articles/resources:
Stricter rules for breeding brachy dogs
https://dogzine.eu/en/newsarticle/stricter-rules-breeding-brachy-dogs
*FOKKEN MET KORTSNUITIGE HONDEN (Dutch)
Fokken_met_kortsnuitige_honden_.pdf
Utrecht University posted an article in January 2019... Criteria for breeding healthy short-nosed dogs
https://www.uu.nl/en/background/criteria-for-breeding-healthy-short-nosed-dogs
"New animal welfare criteria
The report Fokken met kortsnuitige honden ["Breeding with short-nosed dogs"] by the Expertise Centre Genetics of Companion Animals outlines a limited number of enforcement criteria and describes numerous additional criteria that can further help vets and breeders to select for healthy parent animals. The report is available Dutch and has been translated into English and German."
Internal English - eng_breeding_short-muzzled_dogs_in_the_netherlands_expertisecentre_genetics_of_companionanimals_2019_translation_from_dutch.pdf
Internal German de_zuchten_mit_kurzschnauzigen_hunden_-_kriterien_zur_durchsetzing_-_ubersetzung_aus_dem_niederlandischen.pdf

SWEDEN
Collaboration and problem solving -- brachycephalic breeds... thanks goes to the SKK for their continued work to address health and welfare issues in dog breeds.
Here you will find information pertaining to management of brachycephalic dog breeds - discussion and actions - by representatives from Swedish Veterinary Association, the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the County Administrative Board, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and SKK.
Many thanks go to SKK's Linda Andersson for sharing this write-up with the DogWellNet community.

The Extremes of Conformation Theme has been discussed at the Dog Health Workshops held in 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
This document provides a timeline-based group of resources available on DogWellNet including articles, blogs and links to plenary presentations from the workshops. brachy - extremes theme - dwn - idhw - 1-4 - timeline.pdf
During the past decade a great deal has been accomplished to address health and welfare issues that relate to conformation extremes across breeds. Particular focus has been paid to health challenges present in the short muzzled breeds, several of which have become exceedingly popular in recent years.
Efforts have included scientific research, Kennel and Breed Club educational programs, involvements by veterinary associations located throughout the world and governmental approaches to regulating breeds provide an informed view of how extremes can impact health and welfare of dogs - views come from different stakeholder groups. We at DWN are pleased to be a part of sharing information from the Dog Health Workshops as well as other collected resources with the community.

Packer RMA, O’Neill DG, Fletcher F, Farnworth MJ (2019) Great expectations, inconvenient truths, and the paradoxes of the dog-owner relationship for owners of brachycephalic dogs. PLoS ONE 14(7): e0219918. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219918
Abstract
Popularity of brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breeds is increasing internationally despite well-documented intrinsic health and welfare problems associated with their conformation. Given this apparent paradox, greater understanding of the expectations and reality for brachycephalic dog owners and factors driving the dog-owner bond are needed. This study reports a large-scale online survey with valid responses from 2168 owners of brachycephalic dogs (Pugs: n = 789, median age of dogs 2.5 years; French Bulldog: n = 741, median age 2.0 years; Bulldogs: n = 638, median age 2.5 years). The most common owner-reported disorders in their dogs were allergies, corneal ulcers, skin fold infections and Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). One-fifth (19.9%) of owners reported that their dog had undergone at least one conformation-related surgery, 36.5% of dogs were reported with a problem with heat regulation, and 17.9% with problems breathing. Despite awareness of their dog’s health issues, 70.9% owners considered their dog to be in very good health or the best health possible. Paradoxically, just 6.8% of owners considered their dog to be less healthy than average for their breed. Dog owner-relationships were extremely strong across all three breeds. Emotional closeness to their dog was highest for owners of Pugs, female owners, and owners with no children in the household. Ownership of brachycephalic dog breeds is a complex phenomenon, characterised by extremely strong dog-owner relationships and unrealistic perceptions of good health set against high levels of disease in relatively young dogs. Perceptual errors in owner beliefs appear to exist between brachycephalic owner perspectives of their own dog’s health versus the health of the rest of their breed, which may be fuelled by cognitive dissonance processes. These novel data improve our understanding of the cognitive processes and relationships that facilitate the rising popularity of breeds that paradoxically are affected by high levels of conformation-related morbidity.
Comment: Breeder View
This study may be of interest to clubs or breeders who are responsible for educating buyers regarding health concerns present in Pugs, Bulldogs and French Bulldogs. Value exists in educating potential owners of these breeds as to health concerns that may impact owner experiences with their dogs over a given dog's lifetime. The reality is, the dog's ages represented in this survey may have had a some influence on owner assessments of costs of veterinary care and of owner perceptions of time and resources dedicated to caring for their dog - costs and perceptions that may change as their dog ages. It was not entirely clear to me the source of dogs whose owners participated in this survey - in other words from whom were the dogs purchased - show breeders (health tested/conformation evaluated dogs) or other sources. The references listed in this research provide perspective. DogWellNet has collected a number of resources that address the Brachycephalic Issue. The IPFD's Dog Health Workshops have included plenary talks from the Extremes of Conformation theme in which stakeholder concerns over management of health and welfare in brachycephalic breeds and actions to improve matters are addressed.
Related article: JAVMA:
Owners of brachycephalic dogs are a complicated lot
Posted Oct. 9, 2019
https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/191101h.aspx
This article is an easy read and summarizes the study.

The severity of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is assessed by means of walk tests. With the help of walk tests, individuals with the most severe symptoms can be eliminated from breeding.

Thanks to Kevin Colwill for his thoughtful piece entitled "Breeding: Is it a moral choice" in the Our Dogs Newspaper and thanks to both for permission to reproduce here.
In this concise yet thought-provoking article Kevin discusses his thoughts on the question:
When it comes to breeding pedigree dogs, how much is too much and how far is going too far?
Some points worth considering:
Issues in extreme breeds reflect on all breeders. Certainly, negative attention in the media moves quickly from one particular issue or breed and soon expands to include all pedigreed dogs; Beyond that, legislation meant to address specific problems/breeds may result in broad restrictions on breeding - and often undesirable and unfortunate (even for the dogs) consequences.
Although he says "Each breed is its own unique little, or not so little, community" and implies that trying to make blanket decisions for the massive diversity of breeds presents challenges. However, he is also saying that many issues, especially ethical ones, should apply across all breeds and breeding and cannot be left to e.g. individual breed clubs. The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) is founded on the principal that although individuals may operate within a limited community - local or national - dogs and dog breeding are a global phenomenon and many challenges must be considered and addressed with an international - and multi-disciplinary - perspective.
"Breed clubs aren’t defending the time-honoured look of the breed. They’re defending a relatively modem interpretation of how their breed should look." Here he is debunking the claims of some that extreme dogs must look the way they do to preserve the history and traditional of the breed, when, in fact, many/most breeds were originally both more moderate and more diverse in appearance.
His suggestion that "the KC must be much more hard¬nosed in confronting breed clubs and insisting on change." Many KCs and breed clubs, especially throughout Europe are confronting the issues head-on. However, there seems to be resistance from breeders, judges and others. Support from the broader community of breeders to implement change is needed.
For many years, lecturing about breed-specific issues in dogs, even before the existence of IPFD, in discussions with the breeding community, veterinarians and others, it was becoming self-evident that if concerns were not addressed by the dog community, society would likely impose 'solutions' on them. This is coming to fruition in many areas, and society and the media wants to move at a much faster pace than many in the pedigreed dog world. I think Kevin Colwill's call to action by KCs, and all ethical breeders - not limited to those in specifically affected breeds - is timely and important to consider.
PDF version - Breeding-is it a moral choice - PDF.pdf

Love is Blind is a joint initiative of the Australian Veterinary Association and the RSPCA:
"We’re raising public awareness about the animal welfare problems caused by exaggerated physical features such as brachycephaly, short limbs and excessive skin wrinkling, and how these problems can be prevented."
This campaign stresses many of the issues in international work being presented on DogWellNet.com and the work - building on previous Workshops - that will happen at the imminent 4th International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW), in Windsor, UK, 30 May - 01 June, 2019. Including:
The challenges of the brachycephalic breeds need to be understood by current AND future owners, breeders, veterinarians, kennel and breed clubs and other stakeholders,
All these groups need to work together for the benefit of individual dogs and the breeds.
The material suggests actions needed to be taken by each of these groups, including attention to sourcing of dogs, breeding, showing and more.
Resources: See the Australian Love is Blind homepage for links to material, including several videos explaining the increased susceptibility of these dogs to heat and providing practical advice for owners.
We have recently posted on Facebook a video entitled 'The Purebred Crisis' that describes this campaign, interviews veterinarians, owners and a breeder-judge. This video highlights the very different attitudes and perceptions for various individuals. It is this variation in opinion and approach to these dogs that complicates efforts to improve health and welfare in these breeds. I have discussed this in previous blogs. There is no question that people are attracted and deeply attached to these dogs that have, as the Aussies say, "squishy faces", and that they have delightful personalities. However, it is also clear that some owners do not realize the health and welfare challenges in these breeds. One of the themes at the 4th IDHW is effective communication, and we need to use all available tools and knowledge from experts in order to change human behaviour - to not only educate people but also to encourage collaboration.
See more in Brenda's blogs, including:
French Bulldog Health Seminar October 2018
Breeding: A Moral Choice?
and:
4th International Dog Health Workshop Pre-Meeting Resources, for example: 4th IDHW Theme #5: Exaggerations and Extremes in Dog Conformation
And this previous post on DogWellnet.com: Love is Blind - Dr Philip Moses

Our colleagues at Human Behaviour Change for Animals posted this on their Facebook page:
"Fantastic work exploring the demand for rhino horn with the aim of creating campaigns with messaging that is more likely to work than current messaging. At HBCA we believe that it is vital that we don't make assumptions about why people do or don't do things and that we find out for ourselves so we enjoyed reading this article and the papers it links to."
And directed us to: We asked people in Vietnam why they use rhino horn. Here’s what they said.
(Image: Malaysia’s wildlife department seized 50
African rhino horns destined for Vietnam
last year. EPA-EFE/FAZRY ISMAIL)
As I read it I noticed parallels to challenges with human behaviour change in dogs. Words like:
deeply held beliefs... status...
and focus on personal wants and needs and not what consumers consider 'remote' issues.
From the article: "Our findings shed light on why current campaigns against rhino horn purchases aren’t working. For example, they tend to highlight the plight of rhinos, suggest that rhino horn doesn’t have medicinal properties or emphasize the legal consequences of purchasing it.
... From our research it’s clear that people who buy rhino horn won’t be won over by any of these arguments."
As the authors suggest... in order for education efforts to make a difference - actually change outcomes -
"[campaigns] must be "better informed about the values associated with the use of rhino horn and that target the most prevalent types of uses."
I would suggest that we can cross out rhino horn and write in any number of current controversial issues in the dog world and take this as good advice.
To become 'better informed' we must listen to each other and not impose our perception of the important issues or compelling arguments onto others if we want to be effective.
Many of us are thinking about these issues as we approach the 4th IDHW in Windsor, UK, later this month.
See, e.g. Ian Seath's latest blog: We need to stop trying to change people’s minds!

Thanks to VDH (the German Kennel Club) and our friend and collaborator, veterinarian Barbara Thiel, please see attached press release about their latest efforts to support brachycephalic health and welfare. They state that their goal is to identify "the most resilient dogs among the pug population in order to establish the healthiest possible pool of dogs for breeding".
Pug fitness test Germany 2019.pdf
The new effort in German exemplifies several important approaches:
It has been developed collaboratively across various stakeholder groups including the VDH, academics, and veterinary organizations.
The test is "available not only to dogs bred under VDH supervision, but to all pugs".
The test is done under controlled, standardized and well-supervised conditions.
And fantastically, it is being offered for free for two years courtesy of the German Society for the Support of Canine Research (GFK) .
Congatulations to VDH and its partners for this excellent program and thanks for sharing the information with us.
Great to see collaboration focused on dog well-being making a difference.
Links at VDH (in German)
Neuer Fitnesstest für Möpse
GKF Flyer 2019
We have descriptions of fitness tests from other countries on DogWellNet.com, see for example:
Sweden: Swedish Kennel Club: Making assessments of dogs' respiration - BSI (Video Link)
https://dogwellnet.com/media/media/5-making-assessments-of-dogs-respiration-bsi/
Bullies, Pugs and Bulldogs – the current top runners Germany: IKFB: (Includes Video Link)
https://dogwellnet.com/content/health-and-breeding/breed-specific-programs/breed-specific-breeding-strategies/breed-specific-programs-country/bullies-pugs-and-bulldogs-–-the-current-top-runners-r232/
Finnish walk test for brachycephalic breeds ready
https://dogwellnet.com/blogs/entry/88-finnish-walk-test-for-brachycephalic-breeds-ready
Scheme launched to improve health of French Bulldogs, Pugs and Bulldogs - The Kennel Club | Cambridge
https://dogwellnet.com/content/hot-topics/brachycephalics/scheme-launched-to-improve-health-of-french-bulldogs-pugs-and-bulldogs-the-kennel-club-cambridge-r636/

The Finnish Kennel Club (FKC) has finished the protocol and the instructions for fitness (walk) testing of breeding dogs in brachycephalic breeds. The test is similar to the one used by the Dutch Kennel Club.
Finnish test instructions have been developed by veterinarians doing research on BOAS. Their results concerning the Bulldog have already been published. The researchers are still continuing their research and testing Pugs and French Bulldogs, whose results will be published later.
According to the Finnish guidelines, a dog gets an approved walk test result if he/she walks 1000 meters in 12 minutes or less, and recovers sufficiently from the walk within the recovery time. In the future, it is also possible to have different time limits for different breeds. The test result is failed if
The dog is, based on the veterinarian’s initial examination, showing signs of serious respiratory symptoms (including also severe hyperthermia).
The supervising veterinarian interrupts the test due to the dog’s serious respiratory symptoms.
The dog is not able to successfully complete the test and/or recover from it sufficiently within the required time.
The FKC arranged the first pilot test in February, and the second pilot will be arranged in May. Also orientation for veterinarians will be held at that second pilot. After that, breed clubs are able to arrange the tests by their own. The tests have to be carried out in accordance with the FKC's Guideline for walk tests, in order to get the test result recorded in the FKC breeding database.
The FKC is following the development and use of different tests in other countries. It is also having close collaboration with the other Nordic Kennel Clubs on this subject. The aim is, in the long run, and with the help of accumulated experience, to develop the test further, to be as appropriate as possible.
UPDATED 7-15-2019
All the information on the Finnish walk test can be found here.
"Walk test
The walk test is meant for short-muzzled (brachycephalic) breeds that have symptoms caused by upper respiratory tract disorders. These breeds include Pug, English Bulldog and French Bulldog. The dog's exercise tolerance and the ability to breathe normally are evaluated in the walk test and the clinical examination included in it. In the walk test, the dog must walk a certain distance in a defined maximum time and recover from the exercise within a defined time frame."

This summary report posted in June 2019 highlights key activities and progress on relevant action items.
http://www.ukbwg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BWG-Annual-Summary-2018-190602.pdf
More information on BWG is available at www.ukbwg.org.uk.

Åke Hedhammar's presentation from the 4th International Dog Health Workshop addresses management concerns of brachycephalic breeds... efforts to improve health / welfare...
How to change the perception of a desired dog in these breeds
How to implement changes in / interpretations of breed standards

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